Climate change is the average change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. Climate change and its negative impacts have been broached up in the present earth with it's dangerous appearance. The evidences of climate change includes: the rise in global mean temperature( 0.8? temperature have arose as compared to preindustrial time and by the 2100 it is expected to rise up to 4?), increased ocean heat content(from 1995-2010 the rise in temperature of ocean is 0. 9?c),sea level rise (20 cm rise as compared  to preindustrial era), impact in agriculture ,glacial melting (impacts clearly visible in Hindu-Kush Himalaya region and Antarctica region), etc from the world perspective  point of view.

Though, Nepal has negligible contribution in the climate change, Climate Change Risk   Atlas  2010 ranks Nepal  as the fourteenth  most vulnerable  country indicating the extreme vulnerable situation of the country. Some of the strong evidences of climate change in Nepal are listed below:

General:

•       Observed annual trend of temperature rise is 0.41? which is much more higher than the global average.
•     Late or pre monsoon, unusual precipitation, decreased rainy days and intense rainfall. Average precipitation trend of Nepal indicates that the precipitation over Nepal is decreasing at the rate of 9.8 mm per year.
•  Extreme fog condition in Terai region have been increasing years by years .
•      Mosquito from terai to mid-hill are being able to survive in high hills.

 

•  In Himalayan regions the glaciers are melting at the average rate of 2m per year and have resulted in the formation of glacial lake .This rate of melting of snow shows the threat of outbrusting of glacial lakes leading to floods and landslides  leading to loss of the life of the people living in base of Himalayas.
•     Shift in species range ,  ecosystem resilience and connectivity, landscape ecology, extinction risk are the impacts on the ecology of the country.

 

Agriculture: 

NOTE: A video presenting the view of Neplease women's on climate change:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ygytCMO50Y

 

 As Nepal is a agricultural country and more than 66% population rely  on this sector, climate change's impacts are soaring on this sector including other field such as hydrological system. Some of the evidences to prove that agriculture sector is the severely affected sector are listed below

•  Due to the shift in traditional rainfall from mid July toAugust, paddy production has been effected.

 

•  Recently, in October 2013 there was a heavy rainfall for almost a week in the country leading to flood in some parts.
•     Early maturity of the crops due to rise in temperature may help to have more crops in a year(NARC annual report)
•     Shifting of climatic zones have been observed in the country. Extinction of species: local basmati rice, local cultivar of wheat and maize and other species of plants have been observed.
•       Pig and poultry farming has been effected due to the heat stress.
•      Cold wave in Nepal 1997/1998 had negative impacts on agricultural productivity and showed reduction in the production of the crops like rayo, potato, toria, sarsoon, lentil, chickpea, etc.(NARC annual report)
•       Tropical fruits like mango, banana, litchi can be grown in hilly regions and off season flowering in apple, peach, plum have been observed.
•       Increased incidence of pest and disease and their shift to northern side. Weeds are also evolving at higher rate having resistive capacity to weedicides.

 

 

 

We can say that Nepal is highly susceptible to change with two points Firstly, high number of climatic incidence are going to happen which causes loses in lives and secondly, Nepal is not in condition to afford for the implementation of costly mitigating and adaption measures ,thus, likely to be trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty. However , some of the steps have been taken forward from the government and local level .Environment Protect Council(1992), NEPAP(1993), Environment Protection Act(1996), National Climate Change Committee, Nepal's National Adaption Program of Action(2010), etc have been enforced in the country form the government level. Likewise, Ministry of Population and Environment has enforced some of the Environmental strategies owing to the long term climate change effects. Apart from this, some other mitigating measures that are being adopted are

•     Promotion of seminar, workshops, trainings, awareness to local people, including of climate change issues in primary school curriculum, etc to disseminate knowledge about the existing hot issue. Several NGOs and INGOs have been giving due attention to climate change activities in raising awareness and implementing impact adaption measures.
•      Identification of present issues of climate change related to agriculture .
•       Enforcement of emissions standards for functioning of industries and vehicles.
•      Ambient air quality standard have been specified.
•      Most of the initiatives towards climate change impact have been focused on water induced disaster management.
•       Encouragement to the local people for use of renewable energy sources such as biogas , hydroelectricity, improved cooking stoves ,etc to reduce carbon dioxide emission.
•      Due to the awareness programs farmers are also now  changing the cropping pattern according to the change in climatic pattern.

 

 

However, Nepal's strategies on climate change adaption and mitigating measures are at early stage of development. Apart from the water , other sectors like agriculture, human health, biodiversity, tourism ,etc also have to be accounted in the management strategies. Some of the recommendations for agriculture includes:

•      Development of irrigation in fractures for the drought hazards.
•      Development of minimum and zero tillage in rice, wheat and maize to reduce carbon loss from soil.
•      Spreading of IPM technology up to marginalized level and development to disease , insect , pest resistant and drought tolerant varieties.
•      Implementation of weather forecasting in crop production,etc.

 

 

Climate change is necessary natural phenomenon of earth, but because of increased anthropogenic activities its natural rate has been accelerated and its accelerated climate change have been creating various impacts to environment , health, socio- economy and above all the existence of human being on the earth. Its impacts have been visualized globally .And in Nepal also its impacts have been realized and initiatives to address various issues regarding same have been taken from GOs, NGOs, INGOs along with medias, researchers and stakeholders. Furthermore, well documentation and share with the concerned are utmost urgent so as to develop appropriate strategies and its implementation.

 

 

References

http://www.spotlightnepal.com/News/Article/CLIMATE-CHANGE-AGRICULTURE-AND-FOOD-SECURITY

http://www.forestrynepal.org/images/publications/Climate%20change%20governance%20in%20Nepal.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ygytCMO50Y

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change_adaptation_in_Nepal‎